Ed Stetzer and Josh Laxton on Playing the Trump Card This Political Season: Civility Within Political Hostility

Ed Stetzer holds the Billy Graham Distinguished Chair of Church, Mission, and Evangelism at Wheaton College, serves as Dean of the School of Mission, Ministry, and Leadership at Wheaton College, is executive director of the Billy Graham Center, and publishes church leadership resources through Mission Group.

Just the simple fact that I used the word “trump” in my article’s title is sure to generate hate mail. Some might see it as a subversive tactic to promote the current president—others the opposite. Neither is the case. I’m simply using it as a hook for you to read what should be the “trump card” this political season.

If you’ve ever played a card game, like Spades, you understand the idea of a “trump card.” If you play an Ace of hearts and I don’t have any hearts, I can then play a “trump card” and beat your Ace.

In this article, I want to briefly share what this political game is about, how people tend to behave in the game, and conclude with an exhortation to believers to play the trump card of virtue and civility during this political season.

What’s this political game about?

George Washington, in his farewell address, states,

…Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, Religion and morality are indispensable supports. . . . And let us with caution indulge the supposition, that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect that National morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.

Religion, at the very least, provides a framework for morality.

Our political climate has always had sides that disagreed and fought over the role of government within culture. Small government verses big government. Yet, for the most part there was a common worldview held by both sides. That is no longer the case.

What is transpiring today is the clash of two completely different worldviews—an accelerated culture of secularism facing off against an aging culture of Christendom.

For many Americans, the stakes are extremely high as they engage in what James Davison Hunter calls the “culture war.”

How do people tend to behave in this game?

Who really likes to lose? With the opposing sides believing what’s on the line, the vehemence and hostility shown from both shouldn’t surprise anyone.

James Davison Hunter, years ago in his book, Culture Wars, describes the back and forth hostile climate as competing visions for a preferred American future. Within this war for the culture—from a place of desperation—each side has to discredit the opposing side to gain legitimacy for their beliefs, views, and policies.

In other words, in an attempt to win and become king of the proverbial cultural hill, they have to make the opposing side out to be the enemy.

Not to be too simplistic, but the volatile climate boils down to one side fighting “for” something as they feel oppressed by the limitations and restrictions (and even archaic views) of a previous generation, and the other side fighting “against” something as they feel like their way of life has been and is being threatened.

Political seasons are typically super-charged. But it seems that over the last few political cycles they are becoming downright vicious. Truth be told, it seems there’s nothing but clanging noises of people shouting, yelling, and demonizing those who hold differing political views.

What I believe we are witnessing today is a climate where fire is fought with fire. I have been a critic of President Trump. I believe there are things that he does that is unbefitting of the office of president. I also believe that he has riled up some right-wing conservative evangelicals who have adopted such tone and rhetoric that dismisses, discredits, and demonizes the other side.

However, the same is true for many on the left. Elizabeth Warren mocking response to a question posed to her at the most recent Equality Town Hall was telling. She pretty much dismisses anyone—particularly a man who would hold a traditional view of marriage. What’s interesting is that in a follow up question, Warren answers it by singing a song she remembers from her church when she was an adolescent. The song? “Jesus Loves the Little Children.”

After preaching the Gospel every day for 367 days straight throughout the 2016 presidential campaign season, Daniel Whyte III is preaching the Gospel for 1,000 days during the Trump presidency. If you think a new president being in office is the only thing needed to save America and 'make America great again,' you are woefully deceived. The church must follow through and "keep the main thing the main thing: and that is reaching unbelievers with the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and praying for their salvation, for the problem in America is not only disobedient presidents, politicians, and people, but disobedient pastors, preachers, and parishioners who have refused to obey the Lord's Great Commission which is to, 'Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature,' and who have refused to obey God's repeated commands to 'pray without ceasing' for unbelievers, believers, and political leaders." So, we encourage you to pray for the new president, but not to get caught up in the political happenings like the world does. Nothing much is going to change until people get saved and get their hearts right with the Lord. And that is what this campaign is all about.

GLORY BE TO GOD! By the grace of God, over the past 40 years, Daniel Whyte III has preached the Gospel over 6,000 times to over 4 million people in over 25 countries personally, and nearly every country of the world online. In addition, Gospel Light Society International and GLM Omnimedia Group LLC have a network of over 1,000 Christian news sites which contain the preaching of the Gospel and Christian discipleship teaching in every country of the world and in every major city of the world. BCNN1 is a part of that network. Please click here to view some of those sites.